Eleanor' POV:

"Say yes already, Carl! Kick her out!" Della shouted, barely containing her excitement. "She's just a delta's daughter. A nobody. I've had enough of her pretending to be Luna. Eleanor is a damn joke."

She was way more eager than me, like she was the one trying to ditch the mate bond.

"That's not happening," Carl said, grabbing my neck, eyes glinting with cruelty. "You think just because you don't love me anymore, you can walk away?

"I'm the alpha of Stormfang. Everything goes my way. If anyone's sending you away, it'll only be because I'm sick of looking at your disgusting face. You hold zero power here. Got it?"

His fingers tightened. I was starting to lose air.

"You're not going anywhere. Katherine said you make a decent little servant, so that's what you'll be-forever stuck here.

"You're going to keep waiting on me and Katherine. If you die, it'll be right here in Stormfang, when I say so."

Carl, like a demon, crushed whatever scraps of hope I had left. He wrecked the image of the man I once thought was perfect.

"Carl," I grabbed his hands hard, fury bubbling up. "You bastard!"

I shoved him back with everything I had, ripping his hand off my throat and yelling at him. But I was no match for him. Carl didn't even need to shift-he just growled and slammed me to the ground like it was nothing.

My head hit the floor hard, blood immediately pouring out. Everyone froze in shock.

Carl looked stunned too-his expression faltered for a split second before he picked me up in a rush and shouted, "Get the healer! Now!"

Della stormed after him, yelling like crazy. "Carl, are you kidding me? She freaking attacked you! You should toss her out and let her rot-whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with us!"

"Back off!" Carl snapped at her, voice sharp as a whip.

"Are you actually losing it?" Della stopped dead. "You can't stand Eleanor-so why the hell are you helping her?"

That was the last thing I heard before everything went black.

When I came to, the healer had already patched me up. Carl was stone-faced as he dragged me back to the pack house and shoved me into a windowless, cramped storage room. Locked the door tight. No way out.

Anna told Rosa to bring me some barely edible food every day, and stationed a few deltas outside to keep me in check.

To stay alive, I had no choice but to deal with the cold meals, the dark, and the silence.

"Luna, time to eat." Rosa kicked the door open and tossed the food onto the floor like she couldn't care less.

It's been a month. I've gotten used to her half-assed attitude by now. I sat quietly against the wall as she threw me a glare and muttered, "Anna said this is your only meal today. Eat it or don't, whatever."

"If you're not gonna eat, why don't you just die already? Would save me the trouble of coming here every damn day. What a drag.

"Seriously, what's the point of a mutt like you even being alive?"

With that, she slammed the door and locked it with a loud click.

I slowly dragged myself toward the bread on the floor and picked one up without a word. Suddenly, the main door burst open with a loud bang. I looked up, confused.

Carl.

He stood there, face dark like a thundercloud. Instinctively, I scooted back.

He strode over, clearly pissed off, and slapped the bread out of my hand. "This is what you've been eating every day?"

Even after a month of not seeing him, the disgust in his eyes hadn't changed one bit. There was nothing left in me but disappointment now, so I said nothing. Not worth it.

Carl glanced at the rock-hard bread scattered on the dirty floor. His jaw tightened. The anger in his eyes only deepened as he stared me down like I'd done something unforgivable. "Is this really your plan? Starving yourself just to get away from me? What, trying to die now?"

I touched my now hollow cheeks and let out a dry laugh. I couldn't even stand up anymore. He damn well knew Anna was behind all this. They all just wanted me dead and out of their way, rotting in this storage room.

"So what?" I shot back. "You ready to cut the mate bond now?"

Carl stayed silent, his hands clenched tight. I could feel the frustration bubbling under his skin, but I kept my voice calm. "If you're not going to do it, fine. I'll just find a worse way to hurt myself. What, would that bother you?"

He took a step back, staring at me like I'd said something insane-visibly shaken.

Lowering my head, I picked up the dusty piece of bread off the floor and forced it into my mouth. It barely tasted like anything, but it quieted the hunger just a little.

"Alpha, you just got back... maybe check on Vivian first?" Rosa rushed in with a panicked face. She shot me a sharp look, like I'd better not open my mouth.

"Get lost!" Carl snapped. He shoved Rosa hard, and she went down with a cry. Rosa looked up at him, stunned and terrified, too scared to move.

Without saying a word, Carl yanked me off the floor. "Come with me."

"Let me go, Carl!" I hissed through my teeth, trying to fight him off, but my body was way too weak. "I..."

The weight of his Alpha aura crushed down on me as Carl snapped, "Shut up."

I flinched, my hands clenched tight without thinking, grasping at anything to feel a sliver of safety.

With a sharp exhale, Carl bent down and scooped me up like he had zero patience left. I freaked, shouting, "What are you doing?!"

He didn't bother answering-just turned and walked out of the storage room while I clung weakly to his shirt. After being locked in there for a month, the sunlight outside felt like needles stabbing my eyes. He carried me straight into the main hall of the villa.

"Carl, why are you carrying her? She reeks like a trash bin," Carl's mother Vivian stood up, her voice full of disbelief. "Why bring her out? She chose that storage room. Leave her there for good."

Carl didn't even look at her, just kept walking and brought me into the bathroom. Then, without a word, he dumped me into the bathtub and started yanking at my clothes.

"You can't!" I covered my chest in panic, trying to block his hands.

He didn't stop. His fingers brushed across my skin, and every nerve screamed.

I was shaking, lips trembling, then suddenly-I slapped him with all the strength I had left.

Smack. His face whipped to the side.

And finally, he froze.

Carl's POV:

I seriously didn't expect she'd have the guts to fight back.

Eleanor was panting hard, glaring at me with flushed cheeks standing out against her pale face.

I rubbed the spot where she'd just slapped me, staring at her in disbelief. "You really hit me?"

She froze for a second, then awkwardly dropped her hand and stepped away, her eyes following her own fingers. Suddenly, she let out a cold laugh, and the hatred burning in her gaze could've set me on fire. "So what? Alpha Carl, you can hit me back if you want to."

"You're not exactly some saint who never raises a hand," she said flatly. "You're an Alpha-killing me would probably be easier for you than breathing."

"You-" Her words hit a nerve. My hand shot up on reflex. But when I saw those stubborn amber eyes staring me down, I couldn't do it-I dropped it.

Even though her face looked frail, it couldn't hide the fire in her. I'd never seen her like this before.

We grew up together. Eleanor used to be the kind of girl who always listened, soft-spoken like a whisper, and anytime something upset her, she'd run to me. She never said no to anything I asked.

But now? She talked back. She hit me. And damn, she had a temper on her. It's only been a month. How did Eleanor end up like this?

That thought hit me like a punch to the gut. I stood up abruptly and walked out of the bathroom without another word.

"Eleanor, clean yourself up," I said coldly, not bothering to look back. "I don't want to see you in this filthy state."

Back in the living room, I sat down, my chest tight with a dull ache I couldn't ignore. I didn't get why it bugged me so much. Maybe it was realizing for the first time she wasn't the girl I had in my head all this time.

Vivian's expression darkened the second she saw me reappear. She rushed over, her tone full of irritation. "Don't look at me-Eleanor did this to herself! I tried, but she insisted on eating that expired bread. What could I even do?

"I told Rosa to make her proper meals, but she kept refusing. She's just trying to make you feel guilty."

"That's right, our Luna asked for this," Rosa chimed in carefully from the side. "I think she wants to make you feel bad so you'll go crawling back. Don't fall for it, Alpha-Miss Snow's still waiting for you."

"Shut up," I snapped, glaring at her. My voice rose into a growl. "You're a damn housekeeper. An omega. Your job is to clean, not butt into things that aren't yours to comment on. So go do what you're paid for and stop talking like you matter."

Rosa shrank back, her head lowered, not daring to make a sound.

I dropped onto the couch, eyes fixed on Vivian's furious face. "You hate Eleanor. That's why you let them treat her like that."

My voice was low and tight. "If this kept up, what if she really died? I was gone for just a month-if I came back a few days later, she might've starved to death in that storeroom."

Lately, I'd been completely swamped, juggling everything for the pack. I actually trusted Vivian when she said Eleanor would just take some time to reflect. I didn't think she'd suffer like that.

Vivian fidgeted uneasily, her hands twisting nervously. She frowned. "Yeah, I arranged it. So what? Carl, you've always resented her, haven't you? Now she's agreed not to be your mate anymore-you should be thrilled."

She pointed at me, voice rising. "Just kick her out tomorrow. Tell Eleanor to get out of the Stormfang Pack!"

"...Mom." I paused for a few seconds, then looked at her calmly. "I'm not letting her go."

"What?" Vivian shot to her feet, completely stunned. "Don't tell me... you're actually in love with that damn she-wolf?!"

She started pacing, clearly anxious. "What about Katherine? She's almost back from overseas. I was planning to talk to the Crystal Pack about you two getting together as soon as she returns. Otherwise, why would I be so eager to push Eleanor out?"

"So just because Katherine wants to be my mate, I have to go along with it?" I said coldly. "And just because Eleanor wants to leave me, she thinks she can? No one gets to make that call for me."

"I will end the mate bond with Eleanor, but not right now. And you don't need to interfere anymore.

"One more thing, Mom. I'm moving Eleanor to my other private villa."

Vivian stopped in her tracks and spun around, furious. Her face flushed with anger. "I don't agree to that!"

"Doesn't matter whether you do or not." I got up and headed straight for the kitchen. I gave orders to prepare a decent meal and have it taken to Eleanor.

About an hour later, the servants headed upstairs with trembling hands, carefully carrying the dishes.

Eleanor had freshened up and changed into clean clothes. She sat at the table, spoon in hand, sipping soup with a blank expression. I pushed open the door to find her avoiding eye contact, looking down the whole time.

"Finally decided to clean up," I said, sitting across from her.

Eleanor glanced up at me briefly, then suddenly got up and rushed to the bathroom. I frowned, confused-then heard retching from inside.

That frustration just boiled up inside me. I snapped, "Eleanor, what kind of game are you playing this time?

"What, you saw me walk in and suddenly decided to pretend like this so I'd feel sorry for you?"

She wiped her face with some water after throwing up, then slowly came out and sat down at the table, ignoring the bowl of soup in front of her. Instead, she picked at a fruit salad, eating so slowly it was like time had stopped through the entire meal-still refusing to say a word.

I was getting more and more pissed. I gave a sarcastic laugh. "A month apart and look at you-got yourself some serious attitude now, huh? You seriously gonna sit there and only have a bit of fruit salad?"

Grumbling, I shoved a plate of steak in front of her. Eleanor barely glanced at it before her face twisted with disgust again. She turned away, hand over her mouth, trying to fight off another wave of nausea.

I felt like I'd just been slapped in the face-fury hit me so hard I stood up and slammed the table over, along with every plate and dish on it. "How much longer are you planning to act like this, Eleanor?!"

I honestly thought I'd already bent over backwards for her, but she never appreciated it-always pushing the limits.

She just stared at the mess on the floor, frowning, then dropped her fork like she'd had enough too.

"Come with me!" I snapped, grabbing her thin wrist and yanking her downstairs.

"Let me go!" Eleanor sobbed. "Where are you taking me?!"

I didn't answer. Face like a storm cloud, I just wanted to get this stubborn she-wolf out of there.

"Carl!" Vivian called out, clearly shocked. "Honey, calm down-Eleanor's messing with your head-"

But I'd already shoved Eleanor into the car and pulled away from the villa without a second thought.

She went quiet. Curled up in the seat, she stared blankly out the window, hugging herself like she was trying to disappear. For a moment, it looked like she finally relaxed, or maybe just gave up. Not a single word came out of her mouth after that.

I was still pissed-but suddenly, a thought hit me like a slap.

She threw up earlier... not because of me.

It was the food. She's been starving for so long she couldn't handle anything greasy.

I'd gotten it all wrong. And I was only just now starting to put the pieces together.

Carl's POV:

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, wanting to apologize. "Eleanor, about earlier, I-"

"Save it," she cut me off with a sarcastic laugh. "Alpha Carl, your temper tantrums are nothing new. Flipping a table? Please, I'm not losing sleep over that."

I clamped my mouth shut, frustrated. Maybe I was going crazy right along with her.

She was acting so out of character lately, it felt impossible to have a normal conversation anymore.

"I've got a lot going on," I snapped. "Just stay put in the villa and don't cause me more trouble."

This villa was my private retreat-I hadn't stayed here in ages.

But then, out of nowhere, Eleanor exploded.

"I want to end the mate bond!" she yelled, hands flying around. "Can we just stop torturing each other already? You love Katherine, not me! Just let me go!"

"You're not going anywhere. What, did you forget what I told you? At best, you're my servant!" I shouted, slamming my foot on the gas. The car surged forward.

Eleanor's head hit the seat, and she was shaking with rage. "Carl, you're insane!

"Would it make you happy if I just died? I gave up everything for you-tell me, why would I even want to die because of you?

"You're the alpha of the Stormfang Pack, meant to stand above everyone else, and I'm... I'm just the daughter of an ordinary delta! We became mates only because my grandfather gave his life for your pack!

"I know what you really think-that your life matters more, and mine's worthless.

"That's what everyone believes anyway. But I refuse to be treated like your toy!"

Eleanor was yelling through tears, her voice raw and cracked. She glared right at me, like she was done pretending.

"You think I'm shameless?" I asked, completely stunned.

She let out a bitter laugh, full of mockery. "Even though you don't love me, you still want to keep me around like a maid. You even handed my design to Katherine. Isn't that disgraceful? Or maybe you alphas think anything you do to me is doing me a favor."

"That's enough," I said through gritted teeth. "Shut it."

We'd known each other for over ten years, and somehow, I never realized just how sharp her tongue could be. Every word she said cut like a knife. If she kept going, I might seriously lose it.

Before I could blow up, Eleanor turned her face away and clammed up.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm, then called one of the staff. "Pack up all of Eleanor's stuff. Send it to my private villa."

"And my laptop," Eleanor suddenly said.

I added, flatly, "Her phone and laptop too."

"Alpha... the former Luna ordered everything to be burned..." The staff hesitantly answered.

Eleanor clearly heard that. She suddenly lunged toward me, her face turned completely pale. Her hand trembled as she grabbed the front of my shirt. I looked down at her, frowning-her chest was heaving, breath unsteady.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath. "I'll get you new ones. They'll be delivered soon."

"I don't need them," she murmured, shoulders slumping as she collapsed back onto the seat, eyes unfocused. "I can buy them myself."

After that, she didn't say another word.

I kept staring at her, brows knitted, frustrated, until finally looking away.

I thought she'd lose her temper again, scream at me or break down like before. That laptop meant everything to her, I knew that. That's exactly why she broke.

It was a device I didn't even care about back then, but Eleanor had looked at it with such longing in her eyes. She couldn't afford it. I saw that look, that quiet hope, and I handed it over without thinking.

She had treated that cheap laptop like some priceless treasure, holding onto it for four whole years-refusing to replace it, even when it started breaking down. It mattered to her. Everything she'd ever designed was on that computer.

Now she just sat there quietly, hugging herself, head down and face blank. She didn't yell. Didn't ask me a single thing.

I drove in silence the whole way to the estate. Neither of us said a word.

I was usually swamped with work. Even before Eleanor got caught up in that plagiarism mess, we barely lived together. She was always holed up in her studio somewhere. Yeah, she didn't get along with the other werewolves in the Stormfang Pack, but she still managed to get by on her own.

This time, though, it was different. My grandfather had been seriously ill and gone away for treatment. Vivian and the others used that chance to mess with her. I knew exactly how far they went with it.

And I never stopped them. Truth is, I couldn't stand Eleanor either.

"I'm free this afternoon," I finally said under my breath as I pulled over. "We can go get you a new laptop. New phone, too. And whatever else they threw out."

That was me trying to make things right, to make up for what she'd been through over the past month. I just wanted her to let it go already.

Honestly, I'd done more for her than I ever had for anyone else. No one in the pack had ever gotten a proper apology from me-until her.

"I said I'll buy it myself." Eleanor's voice was flat, eyes cold. "I just want to be done with you."

I let out a short laugh, squinting at this ungrateful girl. "Even if I let you go, who would take in a wolf dumped by her Alpha? No pack would want you after that."

"That's a problem for later," she fired back, staring straight at me. "Right now, I don't need anything else. Just this."

"Eleanor!" I growled, fists tightening as I fought to keep my temper in check.

Right then, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen-perfect timing. I answered it on speaker, making sure she could hear every word.

It was Katherine. I softened my tone immediately. "Hey babe, how are you doing?"

"Miss me, honey?" Her voice dripped with sugar. "I could feel how much you were."

"Of course," I said, locking eyes with Eleanor, tone dripping with affection. "I can't wait to see you."

Eleanor didn't flinch. She didn't even look at me.

"By the way, I just had to tell you," Katherine said smugly. "I just saw the news about Eleanor's plagiarism scandal today... They already revoked her awards and trophies, right?"

"That's right," I said louder than necessary. "She's been torn to shreds online."

"I know her professor," Katherine said, her tone dripping with fake sympathy. "He told me he doesn't want to teach her anymore and hopes she'll just drop out soon."

Even after stealing Eleanor's design, she sounded like she actually cared. It was honestly disgusting. I couldn't help but glance over at Eleanor. She didn't react at all-just opened the car door, stepped out, and headed straight toward the villa like she hadn't heard a thing.

I frowned and followed her out of the car. Then I put Katherine on speaker so her voice filled the air louder.

"I think they're absolutely right. Eleanor totally copied my design," Katherine sneered. "When you showed me her draft, I was shocked at how shameless she was. But back then, I didn't want to bring it up because of you."

"Really?" I looked over at Eleanor, not really expecting a reply.

"Yes. I'd already signed up for the design competition long before. Then Eleanor suddenly submitted something nearly identical for the Starluxe Competition! If I hadn't won my award first, I might be the one being accused of plagiarism now."

A month later, Katherine finally decided to explain all this to me, acting like she was the victim the entire time. Not that I cared much, though. Whatever Eleanor was up to wasn't really my concern anymore.

A she-wolf, my mate, just needs to put on some makeup and maybe tidy up the house now and then. No need for her to be running around working.

Stormfang Pack's got more than enough strength. It's not like we need her bringing in money, honestly, I almost forgot about that myself.

Anna and Vivian don't care either-they're just looking for a reason to push her out.

"So, you're saying that design was yours all along?"

"Exactly," Katherine said with that usual smug tone. "You know how it is, Carl. Eleanor's designs have always been trash. I told you once her work was a rip-off of my friend's. It doesn't shock me she'd pull something like this."

I didn't say anything for a few seconds. Katherine's voice sharpened suddenly, "Carl, don't tell me you don't believe me."

"I do believe you," I said, watching Eleanor closely. "You're right-Eleanor got disqualified, and she has no one to blame but herself."

Eleanor sped up toward the villa. I froze for a second, some strange annoyance creeping up in my chest.

"Carl, when are you going to end that mate bond with her?" Katherine cooed over the phone.

I hung up without answering and followed Eleanor with a frown. She didn't give me a glance, didn't acknowledge me at all-like I wasn't even there.

I wanted to snap, to yell at her and force her to listen to me. But then I saw how frail she looked, and that anger just ... vanished.

"Hey," I called out, impatience lacing my tone. "I've got a meeting soon. I'll take you shopping later this afternoon."

Eleanor didn't say a word, just kept walking.

I added, "Someone will be around to look after you. Make sure you eat on time and stop making a scene."

I stopped, watching her walk away without even a glance back. Part of me felt like I should be angry, but I told myself I'd deal with her attitude once she was fully recovered.

She didn't say anything the whole time. That wasn't like her. She used to get flustered whenever I lost my temper, chasing after me, begging me not to leave. She used to wait for me, patient and forgiving, no matter how I acted.

Now? There was this weird twist in my chest that made it impossible to chase after her and demand answers.

So I stayed there, just watching her disappear into the estate. Then, with a grim look, I turned back to the car and headed off to take care of my business.